Mayor's message

Mayor’s message

By Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor Cr Michael Whelan

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Published September 07, 2023

By Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor Cr Michael Whelan

If we look at maps of our region and beyond, it’s clear we have spent generations with male-centric naming of our roads and pathways. It has become clear not many are named after women.

Victoria has a rich history of incredible women who have shaped this state. Despite this, our public landmarks lack a gender lens.

In fact, we have learned there are not many places or monuments or artworks that celebrate women through commemorative justice approaches. This goes beyond equality and moves deeper into justice. This is a way for marginalised people and their achievements to be highlighted and for their stories to be told and remembered.

We have been pioneering gender equality policy for many years here in the Bass Coast region which you may know has previously been given an Honourable Mention at the prestigious 2022 National Awards for Local Government.

We are committed to increasing the number of women represented in road naming within the municipality and are actively taking part in the Put Her Name On It campaign aimed at commemorating women and their achievements.

I’m delighted to say that we are actively working with developers of a new estate in McGibbony’s/Benetti Road North Wonthaggi who are creating new roads that are required to be named as part of the subdivision process. Several of the road names will honour local women.

Put Her Name On It is a Victorian program designed to commemorate women in public spaces and to create gender equality through collaborative action.

Council is working in collaboration with Geographic Names Victoria on this project and is seeking permission from close family members of women whose names were raised by the Wonthaggi Historical Society for their service to the community.

To comply with the naming rules, Council must endeavour to obtain consent from the closest living family member for any proposed commemorative naming. We are now seeking comments from the closest living family members of the women’s names supplied below by the Wonthaggi Historical Society.

Put Her Name On It also aims to shine a light on the places, artworks and monuments that currently recognise the achievements and histories of women in Victoria and as such, we hope this development becomes one of just many projects we will be able to get involved with.

I’d like to pay thanks to Women in Gippsland for their initiative in establishing the Put Her Name On It project and campaign and for those engaged in this forward-looking issue across our region.

It’s easy to just continue as we were without thinking of ways to better ourselves and our surroundings. I would encourage everyone to apply a gender lens to issues around yourself and see how you can embrace a more equal looking future.

If you are a close relative to any of the women below, please get in touch with our team.